Lifeboat station has designs on top award

Scarborough’s new £3.5million lifeboat station has been nominated for three property ‘Oscars’.

The building is on the shortlist for three prestigious industry accolades – including the overall ‘Project of the Year’ title – in the 2017 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards, Yorkshire and Humber.

Crowds gather at the building to welcome the new Shannon Class lifeboat.

The lifeboat house, which opened in November 2016, has been shortlisted for two category awards; Community Benefit and Design through Innovation.

The building will also be considered for the highly esteemed Project of the Year title.

Winners of each category will be announced on Friday 12 May in the Centenary Pavilion at Leeds United’s ground.

The replacement station was urgent due to the new larger Shannon Class lifeboat being housed at Scarborough.

The Shoreline Club recently raised �1,000 for Scarborough RNLI. Eric Preston, chairman at the Shoreline Club, is pictured presenting a cheque to Colin Woodhead, chairman of Scarborough RNLI.

Designed by Brierley Groom Architects, the building is highly cotemporary yet sustainable in that is designed to flood in extreme situations, so some elements are sacrificial whilst others are designed to compensate for the sea’s force.

The building also has a Ground Source Heat Pump which will help to keep running costs low for the RNLI.

Overall, the new facilities will improve the capabilities of the RNLI to rescue people and save lives.

Chair of the RICS Awards, Yorkshire and Humber judging panel, Rob Hindle FRICS, director at White Hindle and Partners (WHP Ltd) said: “These awards showcase our region’s top built environment projects, along with the exceptional talent and skills of the teams and surveyors behind them.

“Every year I wonder how we’re going to top last year’s shortlist, but I’m never disappointed; many of this year’s nominees are truly unique and pioneering, and have transformed local communities.

“It just goes to show, our region is home to some of the most inspiring built projects.

“The judging process will no doubt prove extremely tough, but as part of the next phase of judging, the panel and I are looking forward to finding out more about the positive impact each of these shortlisted schemes is having on their local areas.”